THE SECRET OF THE DRAGON BALLS
KEEP AN EYE ON THE DRAGON BALLS
THE DRAGON BALLS ARE STOLEN
THE
SECRET OF THE DRAGON BALLS 5-16-02
In this pilot episode, we meet ten year old Goku, who has lived alone in the woods since his Grandfather passed away. The only memory of his grandfather is a small, yellow ball with four stars on it. While fishing, Goku runs into a young girl who introduces herself as Bulma. Goku's ball is actually one of seven magical Dragon Balls, with the ability to grant it's holder one wish as soon as all seven are collected. Goku doesn't agree to give her his Grandfather's 4-star ball since it's the only memory he has of him, but he does agree to join her, telling her he might give it to her as soon as she has gathered the other six.
But, a small man named Emperor Pilaf, along with flunkies Mai and Shao, may have beat her to the chase, as he discovers one of the Dragon Balls! Can Goku and Bulma gather all the balls first?
Goku and Bulma stop and make camp with one of Bulma's DynoCaps, a small capsule which contains a house. Goku gets his first taste of the outside world, and Bulma realizes that Goku's tail is very real.
While searching for some food, Goku runs into a pack of wolves, whom Mai and Shao have mistaken for another Dragon Ball. The two fly off in a plane, which Goku believes is a bird and takes down, only to discover he's very wrong.
The next morning, Goku meets an old turtle looking to get to the ocean. Goku, being the kind spirit that he is, agrees to help, with Bulma following behind closely.
Goku helps Turtle get back to the ocean, and his master, an old martial artist named Roshi, gives Goku a magical cloud in return, the Flying Nimbus, which can only be rode by one who is pure of heart. Bulma receives Roshi's necklace, in reality a Dragon Ball, but only after she shows him her naval.
Someone is kidnapping all the pretty girls of Arg Village! Goku is mistaken for Oolong, an evil shapeshifter out to kidnap young Pocawatha. Goku and Bulma agree to help, in exchange for an old woman's Dragon Ball. Goku, dressed up like a girl, attempts to trick Oolong, but the ruse fails and Goku resorts to more direct methods. Unfortunatly, Oolong shifts to his original form: a small, over-confident pig. Oolong tries again, but Goku catches him in the act and Oolong is forced to return all of the young girls, whom he has spoiled.
YAMCHA THE DESERT BANDIT 5-23-02
Goku and Bulma, now accompanied by Oolong, head off to find another Dragon Ball, but run out of gas. Bulma, after tricking Oolong into taking a pill that makes him need to use the bathroom every time she says Piggy, suggests that the group hikes it. Along the way, they run into Yamcha, a desert bandit who knew Goku's Grandfather, and his friend Puar, also a shapeshifter. The two fight, and Goku is beaten because he's so hungry, but Yamcha is scared off by Bulma: it would seem that the mighty Yamcha is terrified of pretty girls.
KEEP AN EYE ON THE DRAGON BALLS 5-27-02
Bulma's a little ticked off at Oolong: it would seem his idea of women's clothes is...not too appealing, as Bulma winds up in a skimpy rabbit costume. Anyway, Oolong spikes Goku and Bulma's drink, then attempts to steal the Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Yamcha has sent Puar, disguised as Goku, to steal the Dragon Balls. Oolong assumes that Puar really is Goku and disguises himself as Bulma. When Puar arrives, Oolong follows in hope of getting away with his hoax. But by the time they find out, it's too late: Yamcha has mistaken the sleeping Bulma for the Dragon Balls, ending any chance of recovering the balls.
The next day, Yamcha comes looking for a rematch with Goku. Now that he's not hungry, Goku makes short work of the Desert Bandit, who vows to follow and steal the Dragon Balls to wish away his fear of girls.
THE OX-KING ON FIRE MOUNTAIN 5-28-02
Goku and Bulma learn from Oolong that Fire Mountain, the location of the next Dragon Ball, is a mystical mountain surrounded by flame. Near it lives the terrifying Ox King, who's castle is inaccessible because of the flames and now makes a living down hill by terrorizing his people. The group encounters the Ox King, but Ox King recognizes Goku's power pole, which once belong to Goku's Grandfather Gohan, who was also Ox King's training partner with Master Roshi! Goku learns of the Bansho Fan, a magic fan which can extinguish the flames on Fire Mountain. Goku, along with Ox King's daughter Chi Chi, sets off for Roshi's Island, hoping to find the master and his magic Bansho Fan.
Goku and Chi Chi find Roshi, who has accidentally disposed of the Bansho Fan after spilling some juice on it. But there is one hope, as Roshi agrees to go to Fire Mountain and extinguish the flame himself! In exchange, he only asks for a moonlit stroll with Bulma. After setting his pupil, the Ox-King, straight about terrorizing his people, Roshi releases a Kamehamea Wave which extinguishes the fire...as well as the mountain and Ox King's castle! Bulma finds the Dragon Ball, Goku masters the Kamehamea Wave in minutes (even though it took Roshi 50 years), and Oolong poses as Bulma for a moonlit stroll, smearing what little of a good name she still has.
BOSS RABBIT'S MAGIC TOUCH 5-30-02
In what is essentially a "filler" episode, Goku and the gang encounter Boss Rabbit, who's touch can turn people into carrots! Bulma is turned into a carrot, but Goku, along with some help from Yamcha, Puar, and his power pole, is able to defeat the evil bunny and restore Bulma, then sends Boss Rabbit and his henchmen to the moon, telling them they can come down as soon as they make enough marshmellow bunnies for all the children on Earth.
THE DRAGON BALLS ARE STOLEN 6-3-02
(NOTE--If you noticed, Toonami didn't title this episode for some very strange reason, so us who are stuck with FUNi dubs, the title is "The Dragon Balls Are Stolen"...Thanx to TheOtaku.com for putting that title on their site so I could figure it out! --J.C.)
We finally learn of Bulma's wish! She's going to wish for...a boyfriend? Oolong is pretty ticked off...he can't believe they've been risking themeselves for the sake of her love life!
Anyway, Goku and the crew only lack one Dragon Ball! But Pilaf's flunkies Mai and Shao finally do something right and steal all 5 balls...what, 5? Yes, the only ball they miss is Goku's, which he has been carrying all along.
Thanks to a lift from Yamcha, the group makes it to Pilaf's castle. Roaming the hallway of the castle, the group's search turns out to be an exciting one, as they get caught in a trap! The group is then gassed and Mai and Shao steal the Dragon Ball from Goku. Is there any hope now? Can they get all the Dragon Balls back, or will Pilaf get his wish? ...And just what is his wish anyway?!
